Coordinates: 40°45′52.56″N 73°58′1.

25″W

Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. It was
Society of Illustrators
founded in 1901 to promote the art ofillustration and, since 1959, has held an annual
exhibition. Formation 1 February 1901
Purpose Encourage high ideal
through exhibitions,
lectures, education,
Contents
and by fostering a
History sense of community
Founding
and open discussion.
World War I
1920–1930 Location 128 E. 63rd Street,
World War II New York, New York
1950s
Coordinates
Present
Fields Illustration
Society Presidents
Museums
Website www
.societyillustrators
Recognition
.org
References
External links

History

Founding
The Society of Illustrators was founded on February 1, 1901, by a group of nine
artists and one advising businessman. The advising businessman was Henry S.
Fleming, a coal dealer who offered his legal staff to the Society in an advisory role
and also served as the Society of Illustrators Secretary and Treasurer for many
years.[1] The nine artists, who with Fleming founded the Society were Otto Henry
Bacher, Frank Vincent DuMond, Henry Hutt, Albert Wenzell, Albert Sterner,
Benjamin West Clinedinst, F. C. Yohn, Louis Loeb, and Reginald Birch.[2] The
mission statement was "to promote generally the art of illustration and to hold
exhibitions from time to time".[3] Society of Illustrators members at the
Berkeley Theater in Manhattan
(February 19, 1914)
World War I
During the World War I years, with Charles Dana Gibson as the acting president,[5]
Society members worked through the Division of Pictorial Publicity, creating many original poster designs, including James M.
Flagg's US Army iconic recruiting poster of Uncle Sam,[3] as well as advertising of the massive War Bond effort.[2] Photo journalism
was impractical during these years[6] and eight Society members, commissioned Captains in the Engineers, were sent to France to
sketch the war.[5] After the war, the Society operated the School for Disabled Soldiers.
[7]

1920–1930
In 1920, the Society was incorporated, and in 1922 women were allowed to become
full members. Prior to this women were granted Associate Memberships since
1903.[8]

The early history of the Society was documented in 1927 and 1939 by Norman
[2]
Price. His hand written notes are held in the Society of Illustrators archives.

During the 1920s and 1930s the Society presented the Illustrator's Shows, featuring
artists and their models as actors, songwriters, set designers and painters.
Professional talent such as the Cotton Club band and Jimmy Durante also
performed. Through member and set designer Watson Barrett, the Illustrator's Show
of 1925 was held at theShubert Theatre, and the Shuberts purchased the rights to the
skits for their Broadway productions of Artists and Models. In 1939, those funds
allowed the Society to acquire its present headquarters, at 128 East 63rd Street.[3]
Norman Rockwell's Dover Coach became the backdrop for the bar on the fourth
floor, donated by Rockwell in honor of the Society's new building. This painting J. M. Flagg's 1917 poster, used to
currently hangs in the Members Dining Room.[9] recruit soldiers for bothWorld War I
and World War II. Flagg used a
modified version of his own face for
World War II Uncle Sam, and veteran Walter Botts
provided the pose.[4]

During World War II the

Society again contributed to
the war effort with a massive
campaign of posters. Society
members visited veterans’
hospitals to sketch the
wounded,[3] and these art
works were sent to the families
to boost morale. The
Illustrator's Jazz Band was
formed to entertain the
wounded,[10] and an ensemble
by the same name plays at
Society events up until the
present.[11]
Poster illustration by Society Member
Harry Morse, 1945 for theOffice of
Poster illustration by Society Member
War Information
C.W. Beuttey, 1943 for the Office of
War Information

1950s
In 1948, the Joint Ethics Committee, of which The Society is a member[12] developed the first Code of Fair Practice, which still
serves today in addressing concerns of artists and art directors working in the graphic communications field where abuses and
misunderstandings regarding usage rights and ownership of works of illustration and other works of art created for a wide range of
public media.[13]
In 1954, the U.S. Air Force began sending members around the world to document its activities. This program continues today.
[14]
Thousands of paintings have been contributed over the years.

The year 1959 saw the Society hold its first Annual Exhibition, juried by Bob Peak, Bradbury Thompson, Stevan Dohanos and
Illustrators Annual.[15]
others. It opened with 350 original works of art and led to the publication of the first

Present
2001 was the Society's centennial year, a 12-month celebration begun with the U.S.
Postal issue, Great American Illustrators.[16] That year was punctuated with the 9/11
Memorial Exhibition,Prevailing Human Spirit.[17]

The Society of illustrators continues to maintain an annual of illustration, student

scholarship competitions and various awards honoring excellence in the field of
illustration.[12]

The Society began and maintains outreach programs with The New York City Parks
Department (2001–present),[18] the New York City Board of Education (1999–
present).[19]

Anelle Miller has been the director of the Society since 2007.
Headquarters under renovation

Society Presidents
The current President of the Society of Illustrators isTim O'Brien
Notable Past Presidents of the Society

Charles Dana Gibson (1904–1905, 1909–1920)

Albert Sterner (1907–1908) — founding member
George Hand Wright (1926–1927)
Wallace Morgan (1929–1936)
Harold von Schmidt (1938–1941)
Albert Dorne (1947–1948)

Museums
The Museum of American Illustration was established in 1981, under the
stewardship of then President John Witt.[12] Today the permanent collection includes
nearly 2500 works by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth,
James Montgomery Flagg, Bob Peak and Bernie Fuchs.[20]

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) transferred its assets in August The Museum of American Illustration,
2012 to the Society, which has continued theMoCCA Fest.[3] Main Upstairs Gallery

Recognition
The Society of Illustrators inaugurated the Hall of Fame program in 1958, to recognize "distinguished achievement in the art of
illustration".[21] The first recipient was Norman Rockwell.[5] Like other recognized artists, he was elected by former Society
presidents for his contributions to the field of illustration. Every year since 1958, one or more illustrators have been added to the Hall
of Fame. In 2001, two additional forms of recognition were added: Dean Cornwell Recognition Award[22] and the Arthur William
Brown Achievement Award, which may be awarded annually.
In 1965, The Society established The Hamilton King Award, which is given annually to one society member, and is widely
[23]
considered to be the most prestigious award in illustration.

In 1981, The Society established the Student Scholarship Competition, which has continued annually to the present.[24] The Highest
Award presented to a student by the society is the Zankel Scholarship Award, established in 2006 in honor of Arthur Zankel, an
[25]
advocate for higher education whose bequest made the scholarship possible.

References
1. "Catalogue of The Second Annual Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators, 1903"
(http://www.dalnet.lib.mi.us/dia/colle
ctions/dma_exhibitions/1903-2.pdf)(PDF). Detroit Area Library Network. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
2. Brown, Terrance. "Historic Rights Issues in American Illustration"(http://www.jbiocommunication.org/free_issues/36-
1/feature2.html). The Journal of Biocommunication. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
3. King, Carol (March 20, 2013)."Leader Unafraid to Venture Outside of the Lines" (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/2
1/arts/artsspecial/director-enlivens-new-yorks-society-of-illustrators.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0)
. The New York
Times. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
4. "The Most Famous Poster"(https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm015.html). American Treasures of the Library
of Congress. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160702034936/https://www .loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm015.
html) from the original on 2016-07-02.
5. Jonkhoff, Sabrina. "3 Things to Know About the Society of Illustrators"(http://www.nyadventureclub.com/single-post/
2016/02/07/Three-Things-to-Know-About-the-Society-of-Illustrators) . New York Adventure Club. Retrieved
2016-12-03.
6. Roberts, Hilary. "Photography 1914-1918"(http://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/photography)
.
Enclyclopedia of the first world war. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
7. Rogers, W.A. (1924-03-01). Bowles, J.M., ed. "Making Good".Bulletin of the Art Center, New York. 2 (7).
8. Grove, Jaleen. "A Brief History Of Sexism And The Illustration Industry"(http://www.ravishly.com/2015/02/11/brief-his
tory-sexism-and-illustration-industry). Ravishly. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
9. Soloman, Deborah (2013-11-05).American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell(https://books.google.com/?
id=EUoPAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT167&lpg=PT167&dq=norman+rockwell+dover+coach#v=onepage) . Macmillan. p. 167.
ISBN 9780374711047. Retrieved 2016-12-07.
10. Kilgannon, Corey. "Nudes on Stage, and Music to Sketch By"(https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/26/nyregion/nudes-
on-stage-and-music-to-sketch-by.html?_r=0). New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
11. Sloan, Michael. "About Michael Sloan" (http://www.michaelsloan.net/about-michael-sloan/). Retrieved 2016-12-15.
12. "History of The Society of Illustrators"(https://www.societyillustrators.org/history-society). Society of Illustrators.
Retrieved 2016-12-14.
13. "The Code of Fair Practice for the Graphic Communications Industry"(https://graphicartistsguild.org/tools_resources/
the-code-of-fair-practice-for-the-graphic-communications-industry1)
. Graphic Artist Guild. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
14. Hannon, Greg. "Society of Illustrators visits U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center"(http://www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/New
s/Article-Display/Article/243947/society-of-illustrators-visits-us-air-force-expeditionary-center)
. Joint Base McGuire-
Dix-Lakehurst. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
15. "llustrators '59: The First annual of American Illustration"(https://www.abebooks.com/Illustrators-First-annual-Americ
an-Illustration-Edition/10038654613/bd). Abe Books. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
16. Kronish, Syd. "Postal service pays tribute to illustrators"(http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2000/dec/31/postal_service_
pays/). LJ World. Associated Press. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
17. McKinley, Jesse. "$25,000 Raised by Artists Helps Sept. 11 Charities"(https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/02/arts/25
000-raised-by-artists-helps-sept-11-charities.html)
. New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
18. Hoory, Leeron. "When It Comes to Art in New York City Parks, Jonathan Kuhn Knows His Stuff" (http://gardencollag
e.com/new-noteworthy/culture-society/nyc-art-in-the-parks/)
. Garden Collage. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
19. "ANNUAL ARTS IN SCHOOLS REPORT 2014-2015" (http://schools.nyc.gov/documents/ArtsReport/2014-15/ArtsRe
port_M630.pdf) (PDF). New York Department of Education. Retrieved 2016-12-11.
20. "More Than The Museum Can Hold: A Purposeful Partnership"(http://adcglobal.org/more-than-the-museum-can-hol
d-a-purposeful-partnership/). Art Director's Club. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
21. https://www.societyillustrators.org/programs/hall-fame
22. "Dean Cornwell" (http://americanillustration.org/project/dean-cornwell/)
. National Museum of American Illustration.
Retrieved 2016-12-03.
23. Norrena, Jim. "Hamilton King Award" (https://www.cca.edu/news/2015/06/22/illustration-faculty-member-robert-hunt-
awarded-hamilton-king-award). California College of Arts. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
24. "Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition"(http://www.uarts.edu/news/2016/03/12-student-works-are-fi
nalists-society-illustrators-annual-competition)
. The University of the Arts. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
25. "Zankel Scholar" (http://www.uarts.edu/news/2016/06/illustration-student-named-2016-zankel-scholar-society-illustrat
ors). University of the Arts. Retrieved 2016-12-10.

External links
Official website

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